Multi-hyphenate artist Kate Torralba just added another feather to her cap. She just picked up her first Palanca Award for her short story, “Amadito and Amanda.”
But this fashion designer, international musician, and budding filmmaker didn’t actually see it coming. Winning at the Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards, a coveted honor among those in the literary field, was furthest from her mind, she said.
“I didn’t think it would win, I just wanted to throw my hat in the ring. It’s a major thing that something like a rom-com story could win,” Kate said in an interview with Vogue Philippines.
The win was especially significant for Kate because it came at a challenging time, having lost her father just a month earlier. Despite facing difficulties, including a hand injury that halted her piano playing, the recognition prompted her to embrace a new identity as a writer.
Now, with the Palanca Award in hand, Kate plans to make her winning story the opening piece in a collection of short stories she’s currently working on. These tales promise to be a quirky celebration of life from her own experiences.
Kate Torralba (@katetorralba) • Instagram photos and videos
“My life has gone from condolences to congratulations in the past few weeks. I’d like to commend whoever wrote this story for the most unexpected plot twist,” she said.
